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Sex Differences in Obesity Associated with Total Fertility Rate

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  • Robert Brooks
  • Alexei Maklakov

Abstract

The identification of biological and ecological factors that contribute to obesity may help in combating the spreading obesity crisis. Sex differences in obesity rates are particularly poorly understood. Here we show that the strong female bias in obesity in many countries is associated with high total fertility rate, which is well known to be correlated with factors such as low average income, infant mortality and female education. We also document effects of reduced access to contraception and increased inequality of income among households on obesity rates. These results are consistent with studies that implicate reproduction as a risk factor for obesity in women and that suggest the effects of reproduction interact with socioeconomic and educational factors. We discuss our results in the light of recent research in dietary ecology and the suggestion that insulin resistance during pregnancy is due to historic adaptation to protect the developing foetus during famine. Increased access to contraception and education in countries with high total fertility rate might have the additional benefit of reducing the rates of obesity in women.

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  • Robert Brooks & Alexei Maklakov, 2010. "Sex Differences in Obesity Associated with Total Fertility Rate," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(5), pages 1-4, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0010587
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010587
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Case, Anne & Menendez, Alicia, 2009. "Sex differences in obesity rates in poor countries: Evidence from South Africa," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 271-282, December.
    2. repec:pri:cheawb:case_and_menendez_ehb_dec_2009 is not listed on IDEAS
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    6. repec:pri:cheawb:case_and_menendez_ehb_dec_2009.pdf is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Patrick Bateson & David Barker & Timothy Clutton-Brock & Debal Deb & Bruno D'Udine & Robert A. Foley & Peter Gluckman & Keith Godfrey & Tom Kirkwood & Marta Mirazón Lahr & John McNamara & Neil B. Metc, 2004. "Developmental plasticity and human health," Nature, Nature, vol. 430(6998), pages 419-421, July.
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    2. Sally Sonia Simmons & John Elvis Hagan & Thomas Schack, 2022. "Then and Now: Investigating Anthropometrics and Child Mortality among Females in Malawi," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Robinovich, Jossiana & Bosma, Hans & Borne, Bart van der & Ossa, Ximena & Muñoz, Sergio & Krumeich, Anja, 2021. "Is a ‘culture of plus-size women’ the independent effect of neighborhood disadvantage on female BMI? A cross-sectional study in two Chilean Municipalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    4. Amina Aitsi-Selmi & Ruth Bell & Martin J Shipley & Michael G Marmot, 2014. "Education Modifies the Association of Wealth with Obesity in Women in Middle-Income but Not Low-Income Countries: An Interaction Study Using Seven National Datasets, 2005-2010," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-10, March.

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